What does Tao mean?
Tao is commonly the character 涛, “great waves,” or 桃, “peach.”
What does Hao mean?
Hao is commonly the character 浩, “vast, grand,” or 昊, “bright sky.”
Tao vs Hao
Which is more popular?
Tao is more popular than Hao today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 6 named Hao.
| Tao | Hao | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Great waves (涛) | Vast, great (浩) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | TOW | HOW |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1970 | 1976 |
| Peak year | 2021 (20) | 1992 (20) |
| In 2025 | 16 | 6 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Tao
Hao
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Tao | Hao |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 81 | 17 |
| 2010s | 131 | 84 |
| 2000s | 116 | 130 |
| 1990s | 23 | 122 |
| 1980s | 37 | 91 |
| 1970s | 45 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tao or Hao more popular?
Tao is more popular than Hao today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 6 named Hao.
What is the difference between Tao and Hao?
Tao means Great waves (涛) (Chinese origin), while Hao means Vast, great (浩) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Tao or Hao?
In US records, Tao first appears in 1970 and Hao in 1976, so Tao has the longer recorded history.